Shanghai (Gasgoo)- XPENG AEROHT, the flying car (eVOLT) company affiliated to XPENG, announced strategic partnerships with Gaozhi Aviation and Aocheng Aviation ("Gaozhi" and "Aocheng" are Chinese Pinyin) at the 3rd Global Digital Trade Expo, securing a pre-order contract for 150 units of its "Land Aircraft Carrier" flying car, worth nearly 300 million yuan ($40 million).
XPENG AEROHT, the largest-ever flying car company in Asia and an ecosystem company affiliated to XPENG, first introduced the "Land Aircraft Carrier" concept in October 2023. Less than a year later, the company has showcased the actual vehicle for the first time.
The vehicle, measuring 5.5 meters in length, 2 meters in width, and 2 meters in height, can fit in standard parking spaces and be driven with a regular driver's license. The "Land Aircraft Carrier" is composed of two parts: the ground vehicle, referred to as the "mother ship," and the flying module. The "mother ship" features a tri-axle, six-wheel design, offering 6×6 all-wheel drive and rear-wheel steering, with impressive off-road and load-carrying capabilities. The vehicle also boasts the world's first trunk capable of housing an aircraft, while still providing spacious seating for four passengers.
The flying module features a six-axis, six-rotor ducted fan configuration. Made from carbon fiber for strength and lightness, it can separate from the ground vehicle with the press of a button, thanks to an innovative automatic docking system. Once separated, the module's six arms and rotors unfold for low-altitude flight. After landing, the flying module reconnects to the ground vehicle via autonomous driving and docking capabilities.
The "mother ship" is powered an 800V silicon carbide range-extended platform, providing a range of over 1,000 kilometers, making it ideal for long-distance travel. It also doubles as a mobile supercharging station, capable of recharging the flying module both while driving and when stationary, allowing for up to six flights on a full charge. The flying module also utilizes an 800V high-voltage system, enhancing energy efficiency and charging speed.
On the morning of September 19, the first Type Certification Board (TCB) meeting for the flying module of the "Land Aircraft Carrier" (internally code-named X3-F) was held in Guangzhou city, marking the start of its formal airworthiness certification process for the flying part.
XPENG AEROHT is also actively developing a nationwide flying car application network. It has already secured agreements for nearly 110 flight camps, with plans to expand to more than 200 by the end of the year.
